ADVICE

In preparation to using new media to help the college, I would first examine how the college is using new media today and how effective is it. Are there any metrics that we can review of existing new media usage? Given some of these answers we can now build a strategy and a path forward.

I would start with the leading new media category of social networking and the leader of that space is Facebook. A quick review of the Baruch page shows that there's not enough activity. Given all the weekly activity, there should be at a minimum two posts per day. One strategically posted in the morning and one in the afternoon or early evening. We should have targeted videos (welcome freshman class, saluting seniors about to graduate, etc.). We should highlight an administration or a department or a student each week and provide a brief story and link to our page/blog. This could be titled "Baruch's Person of the Week" or "Baruch's Activity of the Week". This would generate interest and following.


In addition, we would encourage people to also follow us on Twitter in case of emergency, snow days, etc. We should have a "Did you Know..." blog that gives students advice on either obvious or not so obvious aspects of the school, services, etc. This could be tied to YouTube for a quick informative video (no more than 5 minutes long - informative nugget). We should have a new student blog/page that walks them through the freshman process in a fun and collaborative way. We should have a blog/page for graduating seniors walking them through the process.

We should consider a Baruch app that would allow students to opt-in to areas of interest given their demographics, religious or ethnic affiliations, major, etc. Utilizing the website can be cumbersome at times and more so the Blackboard app. The app could have direct links to our Twitter handles, FB page, Blogs of Interest, Administrative services (Bursar, Admissions, Class Schedules, etc.). This would be more convenient than going to the website or using Blackboard. In addition, We could tie-in CunyFirst, direct access to transcripts, class schedule and history all at their fingertips in an easy and convenient way. These are some of the ways I would leverage new media at Baruch if I were hired to do so. We could use the app, and in synchronous form, FB & Twitter to highlight the activities of students in other demographics, majors, etc. to invite others who are interested. This would foster community within the school amongst the diversity.

Also, Students have enough to read and prepare for so we want the main goal of new media at Baruch to inform and to provide key services in a fun, easy accessible way. This would lower administrative costs, increase effective communications and build community throughout the school.